>> Tuesday, April 15, 2014

By Aldwin Quitasol

BANGUED, Abra – Nationwide human
rights and cause-oriented groups urged President Aquino to probe massacre of
the Ligiw family allegedly by military men even as the Abra provincial board,
which tabled the issue for deliberation did not do so for lack of quorum
Monday.

They also urged
the President, as the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
and Gen. Felix Brawner, commanding officer of the 5th Infantry Division,
wherein 41st Infantry Battalion belongs.to initiate the pull-out.

Over 80
human rights workers nationwide trooped to this province last week to show
solidarity and help the Ligiw family in their fight for justice for the brutal
killing of their kin allegedly by
government soldiers deployed in Baay-Licuan.

They
pressed for total pullout of military troops from the province particularly
Baa-Licuan where people are reportedly now “living in a state of fear due to
military presence.

The
victims of yet the worst human rights violations this March were
Ama Licuben Ligiw, 70, and his sons Eddie, 42 and Fermin, 30 were brutally killed
and found buried in a shallow grave.

Human
rights workers said the Ligiws went missing since March 3, their grave was
found on March 7 and their bodies were recovered March 8.

The
victims were residents of sitio Sucao, Domenglay village in Licuan-Baay.

On March
26, the Ligiw siblings Edna, Jessie and Edwin filed extrajudicial killing
complaints against the 41st IBPA for the murder of their father and brothers at
the Commission on Human Rights Cordillera.

The
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance reported they were scheduled to meet one of
the victims, Freddie in Bangued on March 4 to interview him on his experience
when army men coerced him to serve as guide during their operation on Feb. 22.

Fermin's
relatives disclosed they learned from the victim that the soldiers accused him
of aiding New People's Army guerillas and that the army instructed him not to
go to Sucao, his home village.

Abigail
Anongos, secretary general of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance said the Ligiw
family played a significant role in resisting entry of the Olympus Mining
Company in Licuan-Baay and other large-scale mining interests in the area.

She
added the three and the other immediate
members of the Ligiw family were members and leaders of Baay Licuan Takderan Umno
a Karbengan (BALITOK), Kakailian Salakniban tay Amin a Nagtaudan (KASTAN), the
provincial chapter of CPA.

Anongos
said “these organizations have long been under attack by the AFP’s political
vilification campaign labeling them as enemies of the State”.

Audrey
Beltran, CHRA deputy secretary general said the death of the Ligiws caused fear
in the province, especially in communities where the 41st IBPA operates.

She added
Licuan-Baay and its neighboring municipalities remain heavily militarized.

“The
people fear for their security and lives when going to their pacalso (temporary
hut used as shelter for farmers and small-scale miners), their small scale
mines or swidden farms and thus could not fully tend to their livelihood,” she
said.

Beltran
said harassment and other human rights violations persist in the community with
the continuing presence of the military.

She said
an impartial investigation of the case was not being done and there were even
efforts to whitewash it.

She added
human rights workers in the province especially members and leaders of the Abra
Human Rights Movement (ARHM) have been subjected to harassment as they assisted
the Ligiw family and documented human rights violations.

“These are
the compelling reasons why the presence of the wider community working for
human rights and justice need to be concretely be felt in the communities
affected by the operations of the 41st IBPA and the 503rd Brigade,” Beltran
said.

This, as human
rights advocates and members of various organizations as well as individuals
stated that “The presence of the elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion,
Philippine Army of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) gives the
indigenous people of Barangay Dominglay to an atmosphere of insecurity and fear
as they are already being prevented from living normally as they did before.”

This was
the main finding of the National Solidarity Mission which was participated by
20 organizations done on April 4-7 barely a month after the bodies of the
Ligiws were found in a shallow grave near their pacalso (resting hut) in Sitio Sucao,
of the said barangay. The three members of the Ligiw family went missing on
March 3. Their bodies bore torture marks.

Surviving
members of the Ligiw family and their relatives pointed to the 41st IBPA as
perpetrators of the brutal murder.

The NSM
was held on Sitio Sucao, Domenglay Poblacion, Sitio Mugao of Barangay
Dominglay, Licuan Baay; Sitio Manapnap, Barangay Binasaran, Malibcong and
Poblacion of Lacub. Participants to the NSM observed that the areas they visited
are heavily militarized. They found out that the Bravo Company of the 41st IBPA
was even housed at the vicinity of Dominglay Barangay Captain Josephine Cario
in SitioSucao.

According
to Cario, the soldiers headed by Lt. Mark de los Santos prior to their stay in
the vicinity of her residence wrote her a letter and asked permission to encamp
in her abode. She said they offered their “bayanihan service” to construct a
pathway.

Delegates
of the NSM held a solidarity program with the community members of Sitio Sucao
and other people coming from the neighboring areas with the presence of some
soldiers of the 41st IBPA.

They noted
the soldiers were not wearing proper uniforms especially their commanding
officer de los Santos while going to such public activities.

The
mission also reported disrespect and hostility the delegates of soldiers
towards them and the people who attended the gathering.

Maria Sol
Taule of KARAPATAN (National Human Rights Alliance) said soldiers blatantly
intimidated community people and the NSM
delegates by taking pictures and videos.

She said
army troopers led by de los Santos even entered the church where the people
held a mass to harass them.

They hit
the attitude of the commanding officer in challenging the community people
especially the surviving Ligiw family members to a sapata (an indigenous
practice of settling cases or feuds within the indigenous community) to find
justice in the killing of the their three kins.

The
delegates listed human rights violations in the areas where the 41st IBPA was
operating.

They
reported such cases like sexual abuse among women and children with several
cases of abandoned children from soldier-fathers; violations of children’s
rights, particularly, cases of threats and intimidations from elements of the
41st IBPA; intensified harassment, threat and intimidation especially those
participating in activities organized under Kakailian, Salakniban Ta'y Amin
(KASTAN), Abra Human Rights Alliance and Cordillera Human Rights Alliance. Of
note is the systematic insinuation of officers of the 41st IB to the effect
that the massacre of the Ligiws is perpetrated by KASTAN. Arsenio Ligiw who is
the most vocal member of the Ligiw clan is persistently being associated with
KASTAN; and encampments in houses and within residential areas during military
combat operations under the pretext of “bayanihan.”

Meanwhile,
the national formation of IP organizations criticized the administration
because of the killings and HRVs against IP communities.

Kakai Tolentino
of the Kalipunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas (National Alliance of
Indigenous Filipinos or KAMP) said that they will not just let go the Ligiw
massacre case that happened under the present administration of President
Aquino.

They said
encampment of the 41st IBPA within civilian facilities endangers the populace,
and is a violation of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and
International Human Rights Law (CARHRIHL) and Republic Act 7610 and makes the
women and children more vulnerable to violations. RA 7610 is the “Special
Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act”.

ITOGON, Benguet – A resident of
Bokod town working in Australia and a staffer of a non-government organization
were buried last week after they were killed and five others were seriously injured
when the van they were riding plunged into a 100-meter ravine here afternoon of
April 5.

Police
identified the fatalities as Reynaldo Santos Paz, 63, and Thita Edio Saguid,
38, who worked for the NGO Igorota Foundation Inc.

Rescued
from the wreckage of the ill-fated Toyota Hilux were Eunice Dangpas Blas, 47,
and Cyrilo Cosalan Blas, 55, who both work in Canada; Aris Dangpas Blas, 26, a
driver of the Bokod municipal government; Carmela Edio Paz, 44, who works in
Australia; and Mika Eido Rufino, 17, a sophomore at the Saint Louis University
in Baguio City.

Senior
Supt. Rodolfo Azurin, Benguet police director, said police got a call from a
concerned citizen about the mishap at around 4:30 p.m. that day, prompting
immediate rescue and retrieval operation in Sitio Camisong, Barangay Loacan in
this town.

The van’s
driver was reportedly negotiating an ascending curved portion of the road when
the vehicle overshot toward the right and fell off the cliff.

BAGUIO CITY –Charges were filed
Thursday against the suspect in the massacre of five persons, including three
children here along Kayang Road market area April 6.

Suspect
Philip Tolentino Avino, 31, is now at the city jail after he was brought back
from Manila where he surrendered Tuesday evening to vice mayor Isko Moreno.

This, as the
medico-legal officer who checked Avino said Thursday he bore seven wounds in
the hands.

Dr. Rodrigo
Leal, medico-legal officer of the Cordillera Regional Crime Laboratory service,
told the media: “He (Avino) had wounds on the hand, four on the right hand and
three on the left. These injuries are significant because there are also blood
spots seen on the scene of the crime.”

He said blood
spots found at the massacre scene will undergo DNA testing to establish if
those would match the blood stains on the suspect.

Avino,
despite his surrender, denied the crime, saying he was on his way to Metro
Manila when the massacre happened.

Baguio police
director Senior Supt. Rolando Miranda earlier said Avino was identified by two
witnesses who saw him knocking on the door of the apartment where the massacre
of five people happened on April 6.

The short
pants obtained at the crime scene was likewise identified by the former
girlfriend of Avino who claimed she gave it to him as a gift.

Five
victims, Jacqueline Nociete,19, his brother Joey,9; Jonalyn
lozano,32,housemaid; Dave de Guzman,7 and Raymund del Mundo,9, were brutally
killed in the apartment here at at Hilltop market, Kayang.

The victims sustained multiple stab wounds on
different parts of their bodies that led to their death.

Pronounced
dead on arrival at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center were
playmates of nine-year-old boy Joey who were identified as Dave John de Guzman
and Raymond Del Mundo, both 8.

Dave John
had eight stab wounds, while Raymond had five.

Investigation
revealed apartment lessee, Vilma, mother of two victims, received a text
message from Jackelyn Kale around 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., informing her they
had a visitor looking for their father, Joey Nociete Sr.

When Vilma
tried calling back her daughter to ask about the person looking for her
husband, nobody was answering the phone, prompting her to go back to their
rented unit.

At their
rented unit, Vilma knocked several times at the door and tried calling the
cellphone of her daughter to no avail.

Worried,
she decided to ask the building owner for the duplicate key of the unit.

Upon
entering the apartment together with another companion, she saw her house helper
Lozano bloodied and lifeless on the floor together with two playmates of her
son who were also unconsciously lying in their pool of blood.

Vilma said
she shouted for help until neighbors came to rush the victims to the BGHMC.

All
victims were pronounced dead on arrival due to multiple stab wounds and loss of
blood.

Miranda
said they identified the suspect after material and testimonial evidences,
including statements from a key witness who was a cook at the eatery of the
victim’s family.

He said a
shirt recovered in the apartment and other pieces of evidence also pointed to
Avino as the person responsible for the crime, adding the suspect changed his
bloodied shirt and short pants he allegedly left at the crime scene.

Neighbors
of the victims claimed the shirt left at the crime scene was that of the then
still unidentified man who was knocking at the Nociete’s door afternoon of
April 6.

Police
said Avino could have entered the apartment around 3:30 to 6:30 pm.

Miranda
said the suspect could have been known to the family, as no sign of forcible
entry was in crime scene.

According
to Miranda, the key witness said she was able to identify the bloodied shorts
and belt recovered from the crime scene as that of her former live-in
partner's.

The police
chief said the key witness was taken in as a cook at the family’s eatery and
was adopted as part the Nociete family after she separated from the suspect.

“The
witness was the main target of the suspect as he was not amenable to their
break-up,” he added.

Based on
intelligence reports, the suspect was seen in Cubao, Quezon City and in
Malolos, Bulacan.

He added
suspect could have been under influence of prohibited drugs when he committed
the crime.

Miranda
earlier said anybody who has information about the suspect's whereabouts can
contact his number at 09178281990, adding that a police manhunt is ongoing.

The
victims were rushed to the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center where
they were declared dead on arrival by Dr. Laoagan Rajiv.

The
waitress, who requested that she not be named, identified the suspect through
the bloodied short pants and belt he left at the crime scene.

She said
that the belt was a gift from her. She added they broke up April 4.

There was
no sign of forced entry, according to Senior Insp. Angeline Amangan.

Amangan
said the bodies were already rushed to the hospital when they arrived at the
crime scene. She said there were signs of struggle. The murder weapon was not
recovered.

Although
police have not ruled out other motives in the crime like robbery, Amangan said
some valuables were left behind, including a computer tablet.

A witness,
Mae Dumpit Fernandez, who lives on the fifth floor, said she saw a man knocking
at the unit of the victims around 3:30 p.m.

Fernandez
described the man as five-foot-three, slim, of dark complexion, and wearing a
green sweat shirt and black short pants.

She
thought the man was just visiting.

The bodies
were taken to Funeraria Paz Monday, while relatives of the two late siblings
were taken to Naguillian, La Union.

Meanwhile,
Domogan said he was alarmed on increasing heinous crimes in the city the past
weeks.

He added
crimes against properties and persons escalated the past month.

Domogan
said heinous crimes, such as recent shooting incident involving a taxi driver
and massacre involving the Noceiete family, do not usually happen in the city.

Miranda,
however, downplayed this, saying there was decrease in the city’s crime rate
the past month compared to the previous months before he assumed office.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – The
campaign against illegal drugs and other crimes in this province is gaining
ground with bigger number of arrested drug personalities and wanted persons,
according to law enforcement officials.

Senior Supt. Sterling Blanco,
provincial police director said just recently, a total 35 operations were
conducted, resulting in arrest of 48
persons and confiscation of 79.79 grams of shabu worth P518.245 and 140.302
grams of dried marijuana leaves worth P10,522.

He said 46
cases have been filed in courts for illegal drugs against suspects.

Blanco
said the provincial police command’s campaign in reducing distribution of
marijuana and shabu in Pangasinan was
boosted by running after distributors here and reducing supply and
demand.

A veteran
intelligence officer and recipient of awards, Blanco said once the supply of
illegal drugs here is lessened this will
mean reduction of users since they cannot buy illegal drugs anymore.

In year
2013, under the term of Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, where two electoral events
were held, Pangasinan police accomplished 35% more operations and 65% more
arrests compared to 2012.

Now chief
of police directorial regional staff based in in Camp Gen. Florendo, La Union,
Chan said year 2012 was a period of normal police operations and even 2014,
compared to 2013, “yet Pangasinan was included in 15 areas of concern. We still
accomplished that much in anti-drugs operations and the biggest haul so far in
January 2013 operations.”

In other
police operations, Chan said Pangasinan office was awarded with most number of
guns confiscated with two other major awards (arrest of most wanted persons)
for exemplary performance in 2013 elections.

Blanco
meanwhile said he launched information drive activities in elementary and
secondary schools which students, teachers, barangay officials and members of
non-government organizations had attended.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A drunk
driver, who was with his 8-year-old son, rammed his ‘devil truck’ at several
vehicles here along km 4 the Halsema Highway around 10:30 a.m. Thursday that
resulted to heavy traffic and wounding of eight persons.

Police
said an Isuzu cargo truck with plate number RAH 519 driven by Rogelio Lunggos Saludes,
32, of km.4 Barangay Balili here came
from km.5 headed to Baguio City.

The truck
crossed to the opposite lane, sideswiped the left side rear portion of a
passenger jeep with license number AYS
151, hit the center rope, causing
barriers to fall, the smashed the left side front portion of a Toyota Innova Wagon taxi going towards
km.5.

The truck
did not stop, instead it moved forward then
sideswiped a Kawasaki motorcycle.

It still
did not stop until it collided head on against another passenger jeep with
plate number AYC 365.

The truck
pushed the jeep southward and finally stopped.

The two
jeeps, motorcycle, Innova taxi came from Baguio City were all headed to km.5
when the collisions happened.

BAGUIO CITY -- The unity and
passion needed to flesh out autonomy for the Cordillera may yet be at hand as
leaders of this upland region - including its seven congressional
representatives - have set a region-wide summit on the issue of self-rule on
April 30 at the Baguio City National High School.

The summit
comes 27 years after ratification of the 1987 Constitution that provided
for the creation of autonomous regions for the Cordillera and Muslim
Mindanao to “accelerate (the) economic and social growth and development”
of said regions which, despite their natural wealth, continue to lag
behind the rest of the country.

It comes
after two organic acts to establish self-rule were rejected in two
plebiscites, reportedly mainly due to lack of understanding and appreciation of
autonomy resulting from a weak and limited grassroots information campaign.

The
April 30 powwow was forged during a meeting last March 11 among Cordillera
congressional representatives with governors, mayors and members of the
Regional Development Council who traveled to meet them at the House of
Representatives.

In a
meeting of the preparations committee last Tuesday, Baguio Rep. Nicasio Aliping
explained the Cordillera solons agreed to come up with a new autonomy bill
based on inputs during the whole-day summit.

Aliping
said the solons will set up a committee to help them draft the new measure
which will also be based on House Bill 5595 which was filed during the previous
Congress and earlier documents.

In
preparation for the summit and as agreed during the consultation with the
Cordillera solons, provincial, city and other local consultations are continuing,
according to regional director Milagros Rimando of the National Economic and
Development Authority.

The
promise of active engagement of most or all of the Cordillera representatives
during and after the summit – especially their eventual drafting and filing of
a new organic act – has boosted hopes for warming up the national government’s
support to the constitutional mandate for autonomy in the region.

“Cordillerans
led by its officials have to deliver one message to the national government
that we want autonomy,” city mayor Mauricio Domogan, who will host the
summit with Rep. Aliping, noted recently. “To be united is the only way
we can drive home the point and for us to be heard.”

Domogan
feels that Malacanang is not receptive to the push for Cordillera autonomy as
it would mean devolution of some of its key powers and function and additional
fund provisions called for under an autonomous region set-up.

In a
recent forum here, former provincial planning and development officer Bial Palaez
of Benguet also stressed that the key to achieving autonomy is for the region’s
leaders to spearhead the push. He said that while he and others worked
for approval of the first autonomy bill, it was rejected in Benguet
because the key leaders of the province were campaigned against it.

The
mayor, who has been pushing the quest for self-rule in numerous forums,
maintained that the drive must done peacefully, unlike the forging of a
Bangsamoro region in Mindanao which was marked by violence and war.

“Getting
into war may appear to be an effective means to get the needed attention from
the government, bur let us make a difference and show them that we can attain
our autonomy goal through peaceful means even if it will take us a long time to
do it,” the mayor said.

The
mayor headed the committee mandated by the Regional Development Council that
crafted the draft of the third organic act for Cordillera autonomy which became
HP 5595 and Senate Bill 3115.

He noted that the crafting was guided by five
principles to provide the Cordillera a permanent regional identity, greater
freedom and power to manage its affairs, develop and benefit from its
natural resources and enjoy more financial benefits from the national
government and be abreast with the other regions of the country which are
benefiting from the exploitation of its resourcesRead more...

CABANATUAN CITY – The
ouster of the president of a Methodist-run university here almost two years ago
was illegal and unjustified, according to the National Labor Relations
Commission (NLRC).

The NLRC
thus ordered the immediate reinstatement of Manuel Palomo Sr. as president of the
68-year-old Wesleyan University Philippines (WUP), considered as the oldest
private university in the province.

Palomo was
unseated on March 11, 2012 in a resolution by the WUP’s board of trustees. It
was affirmed on the same day by the United Methodist Church’s College of
Bishops (UMC-COB), which selects the university president and members of the
board of trustees.

In a
28-page decision signed by NLRC Region 3 labor arbiter Mariano Bactin, the
commission also ordered the WUP board of trustees and the COB to indemnify
Palomo with P8.544 million in back wages; actual, moral and exemplary damages,
and attorney’s fees. Palomo was represented in the labor suit by lawyer
Valentino Alberto.

Reacting
to the NLRC decision, Palomo said he felt vindicated. “There is no winner or
loser in this case as we all belong to the UMC. I sought the intervention of
the NLRC because of the absence of any mediation and reconciliation efforts. I
looked for avenues to right a wrong – that I was indeed illegally dismissed,”
said Palomo, whose term was to expire this April 30.

“I don’t
want my grandchildren to live with the thought that their grandfather did
something wrong,” he said.

In a
one-page notice of decision issued by labor arbitration associate Reynaldo
Martin, the NLRC said the ruling shall be immediately executory even pending
appeal and the WUP is directed to submit a report of compliance within 10
calendar days from receipt of the decision.

Posting of
a bond by the WUP in case it intends to question the NLRC ruling shall not stay
the execution for reinstatement, according to the notice.

The NLRC
said it found “substantial, convincing and competent evidence” that Palomo was
illegally and unjustifiably dismissed as WUP president after a careful
evaluation of the facts presented.

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The
Isabela-based 5th Infantry Division, one of the country’s biggest Army
divisions covering northeast Luzon, has a new chief in Maj. Gen. Benito Antonio
de Leon. De Leon formally assumed the post April 4 in simple turnover rites
presided over by Army chief Lt. Gen. Hernando Iriberri at the 5th ID
headquarters at Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela.

A member of
Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, De Leon, who belongs to the Ibanag
tribe of Cagayan, replaced Brig. Gen. Ricardo Jalad, who assumed one of the
most coveted military posts in an acting capacity from Maj. Gen. Joel Ibañez
last month.

Before his
appointment, De Leon served as chief of the Armed Forces’ Training and Doctrine
Command based at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Also
dubbed as Star Division, the 5th ID covers Cagayan Valley and the Cordilleras,
where New People’s Army rebels are still active in several areas, especially in
mountain communities.

De Leon
vowed to continue the division’s operations “to maintain its momentum toward a
peaceful, progressive and prosperous northern Luzon.”

DAGUPAN CITY -- Several fish pen
operators have voluntarily dismantled their illegally-constructed fish pens as
the 15-day grace period given by the city government came to an end last month.

Even former
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Federation President Charice Perez committed to
remove the structure she owns as the City Agriculture Office’s “Bantay Dagat”
began implementing the demolition order issued by Mayor Belen T. Fernandez
against illegal structures that obstruct the natural flow of water in bodies of
water.

The
subject of the demolition order are fish pens located in prohibited zones,
outside the designated navigational lanes, obstructing the natural flow of
water and other aquatic resources, said Emma Molina, city agriculture officer.

Molina
said six fish pen owners have volunteered to dismantle their fish pens while
those who fail to comply will be subject to demolition.

The record
shows that there are 66 fish pens due for demolition: 20 in Lucao; 15 in
Calmay; 11 in Carael; eight in Tapuac; seven in Pugaro; two in Salapingao; two
in Lomboy and one in Tambac.

The
dismantling comes more than a month before the start of the 2014 month long
Bangus festival that will start on April 1.

The
festival will highlight its newest addition “Bangusine” or Bangus Cuisine
International that will be participated in by international students from the
different universities here who will cook bangus their native way. – Liezle BasaInigo

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union
— Effective this Holy Week, the “Lakbay-Alalay” program of the Department of
Public Works and Highways Region 1 will be activated to ensure the
smooth travel and provide reliable assistance to motorists.

Department
of Public Works Highway Region 1 Regional Director Melanio C. Briosos has
instructed the 10 District Engineers to organize their teams that will be
responsible to maintain the smooth travel and provide assistance to motorists
from April 13 to 20.

Briosos
also urged district engineers to give commuters and motorists comfortable trip
with the traffic service maintenance especially the informative/regulatory
warning signs or traffic advisory for alternate routes specifying the entry and
exit points with the corresponding distances passing traffic areas where
construction activities are.

He reiterated
continuous removal of obstructions along the national roads and bridges
to avoid accidents .

The
members of the “Lakbay-Alalay” team, he said, will be assigned on a
round-the-clock shift along the Manila North Road, and they are to
coordinate with agencies like the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National
Police, Officials of the Local Government Units to give necessary assistance
that maybe required or provided on a normal and emergency situations.

The
stations of the “Lakbay Alalay” team of DPWH Ilocos Norte First and Second
District Engineering Offices will be located at the following areas:
Baduang Section, Pagudpud, Manila North Road, San Nicolas town proper, Batac
City, MNR Currimao and Badoc, Ilocos Norte and in front of the DPWH
Second DEO office at San Pablo, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

DPWH
Ilocos Sur First DEO team will be placed at the MNR Bantay and Magsingal,
Ilocos Sur; for the Second DEO they will be positioned along the MNR of
Narvacan, Candon City proper and MNR City Hall Command Post.

DPWH La
Union First DEO team will be located at the MNR- San Fernando-Bacnotan and
Bacnotan-Sudipen, La Union; for the DPWH Second DEO the members of the
“LakbayAlalay” team will be seen along the MNR of Agoo, Caba, and the roads
along Agoo-Baguio City (Tubao and Pugo Section), Caba-Bauang, Rosario-Pugo and
Bauang-Baguio City Roads.

DPWH
Pangasinan First DEO “Lakbay Alalay” team will be stationed at the
Pangasinan-Zambales Rd and Alaminos City proper.

On the
other hand, DPWH Pangasinan Second DEO has its team members at Guibel, San
Jacinto Section along Mangaldan-Manaoag-Binalonan Road, Socony Section at
Pangasinan-Tarlac Road, Manat Section along Pangasinan-Zambales Road, and at
the Pangasinan-La Union Road and Dagupan City National Roads.

The DPWH
Pangasinan Third DEO team will be at the MNR along Carmen-Rosales, Binalonan
(Poblacion) and at the Pangasinan-Nueva-Viscaya Road (Sta Maria Section).

Briosos
also urged district engineers to give commuters and motorists comfortable trip
with the traffic service maintenance especially the informative/regulatory
warning signs or traffic advisory for alternate routes specifying the entry and
exit points with the corresponding distances passing traffic areas where
construction activities are.

He
reiterated the continuous removal of obstructions along the national
roads and bridges to avoid accidents .

The
members of the “Lakbay-Alalay” team, he said, will be assigned on a
round-the-clock shift along the Manila North Road, and they are to
coordinate with agencies like the Land Transportation Office, Philippine
National Police, Officials of the Local Government Units to give necessary
assistance that maybe required or provided on a normal and emergency
situations.

The
stations of the “Lakbay Alalay” team of DPWH Ilocos Norte First and Second
District Engineering Offices will be located at the following areas:
Baduang Section, Pagudpud, Manila North Road, San Nicolas town proper, Batac
City, MNR Currimao and Badoc, Ilocos Norte and in front of the DPWH
Second DEO office at San Pablo, San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

DPWH
Ilocos Sur First DEO team will be placed at the MNR Bantay and Magsingal,
Ilocos Sur; for the Second DEO they will be positioned along the MNR of
Narvacan, Candon City proper and MNR City Hall Command Post.

DPWH La
Union First DEO team will be located at the MNR- San Fernando-Bacnotan and
Bacnotan-Sudipen, La Union; for the DPWH Second DEO the members of the “Lakbay Alalay”
team will be seen along the MNR of Agoo, Caba, and the roads along Agoo-Baguio
City (Tubao and Pugo Section), Caba-Bauang, Rosario-Pugo and Bauang-Baguio City
Roads.

DPWH
Pangasinan First DEO “Lakbay Alalay” team will be stationed at the
Pangasinan-Zambales Rd and Alaminos City proper.

On the
other hand, DPWH Pangasinan Second DEO has its team members at Guibel, San
Jacinto Section along Mangaldan-Manaoag-Binalonan Road, Socony Section at
Pangasinan-Tarlac Road, Manat Section along Pangasinan-Zambales Road, and at
the Pangasinan-La Union Road and Dagupan City National Roads.

The DPWH
Pangasinan Third DEO team will be at the MNR along Carmen-Rosales, Binalonan
(Poblacion) and at the Pangasinan-Nueva-Viscaya Road (Sta Maria Section).

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The
centralized issuance of gun licenses by the Philippine National Police is
anti-poor, impractical and an added burden to responsible gunholders that could
result to proliferation of loose firearms in the coming months, Rep. Ronald M.
Cosalan said here last week.

The
lawmaker said he is willing to sponsor a House resolution calling for an
inquiry on the circumstances that compelled the PNP leadership to close the
operation of its satellite offices processing gun licenses and permits and for
the centralized issuance of such licenses which could result to numerous
firearms that will no longer be renewed for practicality purposes.

“It will
be easy for us to determine what kind of schemes are again involved in this
matter,” Cosalan said.

He claimed
even policemen using their private firearms in discharging their duties and
responsibilities due to the lack of sufficient firearms to be issued to the law
enforcers are complaining on the difficulty of renewing the licenses and permits
of their firearms considering that it has become costly on their part for them
to travel to Camp Crame just to process their gun licenses.

According
to him, ordinary gunholders cannot afford the expensive travel to Manila for
the renewal of their firearm licenses and permits, especially that the
processing is not done for only a day but for several days, thus, an added
expense on their part

“We call on our gunholders to formalize their
complaints and get their acts together so that we can initiate the necessary
congressional inquiry and formulate appropriate solutions to address their
valid issues against the centralized issuance of gun licenses,” Cosalan said.

He warned
the PNP leadership to immediately come out with a decisive action on the issues
being raised by responsible gunholders before it will be too late which could
result to the proliferation of loose firearms that could be used for illegal
activities thereby defeating the purpose of the new comprehensive gun control
measure.

“The PNP
leadership must also effectively and efficiently answer the valid allegations
that the centralized issuance of firearm licenses is for fund-raising
purposes,” Cosalan added.

If the
same is true, he tossed back the question to the PNP on the purpose of the
fund-raising and for whoever the personality behind such controversial
decision.

Cosalan
said centralized issuance of gun licenses would result to a heavy loss of
income on the part of the government once responsible gunholders decide not to
renew or process the licenses of their guns thereby significantly affecting the
national government’s revenue generation efforts.

Comparing the situation of Luzon gunholders to
those in Visayas and Mindanao, Cosalan said those gunholders in Visayas and
Mindanao are the ones who will greatly suffer from the centralized issuance of
gun licenses and permits because of the huge expenses that they will entail in
their air or water or by land travel among other incidental expenses.

“We also
have some doubts when the PNP suddenly decided to practice the centralized
issuance of gun licenses, thus, the PNP leadership will have a lot of
explaining to do to satisfy all the issues and concerns of the affected sector
before the situation goes out of control,” Cosalan said.

LUNA, Apayao – At least P6.4
billion was released by the Department of Budget and Management to Department
of Public Works and Highways to improve national and secondary national roads in Cordillera this year to achieve commitment
of President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III to have all national roads and 80
percent of secondary national arterial roads concreted by the middle of 2016.

Engineer
Edilberto P. Carabbacan, DPWH regional director, said Apayao received the
biggest chunk of the funds at a little over P1.4 billion, followed by Ifugao
with P1.3 billion, then Kalinga at P1.2 billion, Benguet with P1.1 billion,
Mountain Province with P600, Abra with P4 million and Baguio with only P380
million.

“At the
end of 2013, approximately 55 percent of the region’s nearly 2,000 kilometers
of national roads were already concreted because of the P6.6 billion funds
released by the national government for numerous infrastructure
projects,”Carabbacan said.

Because of
the earlier bidding of the programmed projects, the DPWH official said that
most of the programmed projects were completed before the rainy season, thus,
increased access to the remote communities in the region have been existent.

By the end
of this year, Carabbacan explained approximately 80 percent of the region’s
national and secondary national arterial roads will be concreted thereby
helping spur economic growth in the interior parts of the region.

He said
stringent rules are being enforced in the bidding of the different
infrastructure projects to make sure that contractors who are financially and
technically capable of prosecuting projects in mountainous areas will be the
ones who will be awarded the multi-billion contractors for the sake of quality
work beneficial to the motoring and commuting public.

Before the
Aquino administration embarked on a 4-year infrastructure development program
in 2012, around 40 percent of the national and secondary national arterial
roads in the region were concreted, thus, people in the remote communities of
Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Abra and Apayao were deprived of the
benefits of development.

Carabbacan
revealed the substantial improvement of major road networks in the region will
translate to economic growth because of increased investment opportunities,
increased employment for local residents and increased income for concerned
local governments.

He added
the agency and project implementers are trying their best to comply with the
marching orders of Public Secretary Rogelio Singson to make all national and
secondary national arterial roads comply with international standards for the
benefit of the motorists.

According
to Carabbacan, the implemented and soon to be implemented road projects were
designed to ensure that the stat of the environment will be protected and preserved
in order to enhance the growth of the ecotourism industry of the region which
is seen to be instrumental in spurring the economic growth of the remote
communities. -- Dexter A. See

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The
Kalinga District Engineering Office of the Department of Public Works and
Highways is hastening concreting of all secondary roads in the province.

This, as
they appealed to stakeholders along road rights-of-way to cooperate and refrain
from asking unreasonable property damage claims.

Engineer
Teodoro Owek, construction chief of KDEO, said P153 million was earmarked this
year for concrete pavement of secondary roads that include the Pinukpuk-Balbalan national highway,
Bulanao-Paracelis, Bulu-Malalao, and other secondary roads connecting Kalinga
to other provinces.

He said
KDEO is implementing projects during
summers to take advantage of good
weather.

“These are government projects and we all
benefit from them so our appeal for concern communities and individuals is to
give way for their implementation,” Owek said.

Aside from
road projects, the DPWH is also busy
constructing school buildings
which task was lodged to the agency last year.

Owek said
P123M was also allotted for the
construction of classroom buildings in the province and all of these projects are on-going.

BONTOC, Mountain Province --
Government forces killed April 2 a leader of the New People’s Army and a “female
NPA amazon” operating in the tri-borders of Abra, Mountain Province and Ilocos
Sur provinces known as the AMPIS area during an encounter that started here
early last week.

Alunday
was reportedly brought down to Barangay Dalican here afternoon of April 6, upon
request of relatives, facilitated by the Cordillera People’s Alliance and later
brought to Balbalan, Kalinga.

Another
NPA guerrilla was also wounded during operation conducted by police and
military units, Nerez said.

But
according to Ruel Tabliago, information officer of the 54th IB, another female
NPA member was killed during the encounter.

Tabliago
said elements of the 54th infantry battalion and Mt Province police
provincial office clashed with the NPA at vicinity of Bandung Hill, at Barangay
Dalican here around 3 pm on April 2.

The
engagement lasted more than an hour, reportedly led to wounding of several NPA
guerillas. One wounded in the
government side identified as PO1 Manuel Dagsan was
reportedly now in stable condition.

Tabliago
said Alunday was a native of Poswoy, Balbalan Kalinga.

He added
as of April 5, elements of the
50th IB also encountered around 30 NPA
in Baklingayan, Tabakdo, Tubo, Abra. Pursuit
operations are reportedly ongoing.

Lt Col
Eddie Pilapil commanding officer of the 54th infantry battalion expressed his
sympathies to the families of the fallen rebels saying, “only
through peace can development and social justice be attained. We encourage our
brothers in the NPA to lay down their arms and take advantage of the
government’s integration program. There are many ways to solve our
problem and fighting is not one of the solutions”.

This, as
Nerez said government forces were conducting operations are press time to rid
the tri-boundary of rebel forces.

Nerez said
despite sustaining casualties during their operation against the insurgents on
March 29, where two were killed and two were wounded, they are determined to
bring justice to the victims and flush the NPA guerillas out from the area.

Two weeks
ago, while police were advancing to another NPA camp, a firefight took place
that resulted to the injury of PO1 Emmanuel Dagsan, a member of the Mountain
Province Public Safety Company who sustained a gunshot wound on his right
thigh.

He was
immediately rushed to the Baguio General Hospital for medical
treatment.

At
present, operating personnel were still pursuing NPA guerillas and trying to drive them away from a forested
area to capture another training camp of the communist rebels.